Control device for controllable apparatus



June 30, 1942.

R. c. MARHOLZ ETI'AL 2,288,098

CONTROL DEVICE FOR CONTROLLABLE APPARATUS Filed Dec. 12, 1938a/awmrZdP/wkr a? y Patented June 30, 1942 2,288,098 CONTROL DEVICE FORCONTBOILABLE APPARATUS Richard C. Marholz and Alexander W. Plensler,

Chicago, 111., assignors to Belmont Radio Corporation, Ghicago, 111., acorporation of II- linois Application December 12, 1938, Serial No.245,078

12 Claims.

Our invention relates in general to control apparatus, and more inparticular to a manually operated automatic tuning device for radioreceivers.

A number of manually operated automatic radio receiver, as well as forthe general control of controllable apparatus.

An object of the present invention is to provide an improved manuallyoperated push button tuner.

A further object of our invention is to provide contro1 apparatusoperated upon a straight line pushing movement of an actuator to rotatea shaft substantially through 180 without the use of link or gearmechanism.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a compact, sturdycontrol unit which may be operated with a relatively small force to anaccurate operated position.

Other objects and advantages of our invention will be apparent from thefollowing description,

taken with the drawing, in which:

Fig. lis a front elevation of the tuning and indicating structure of ourinvention.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary view of the complete control and indicatingapparatus of our invention, with the top of the housing for theapparatus cut away, andtaken substantially along the line 22 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3'is a vertical sectional view along the line 33 of Fig. 2. Thisshows the contro1 apparatus in normal idle position.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view'similar to Fig. 3, with one control unit andan actuator in'operated position, with similar apparatus in thebackground shown in idleposition,

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary detail view in section of one of the controlunits as shown in Figs. 2, 3 and 4.

In practicing'our invention, we provide a plurality of adjustablymounted control units supported on a rotary shaft connected with thetuning apparatus for a. radio receiver. Each control unit comprises apair of cam portions rigid with respect to one another and with the camsurface of one cam portion extending in a di- 55 units The pres- 1.0

3/ l9 journalled in a pair of frame plates 2| and is rectionsubstantially opposite to the cam surface of the other cam portion. Eachcam portion is provided with a stop portion at one end of the camsurface, and the two stop portions in each control unit are positionedrelatively adjacent but separated from one another.. The control unit isrotated in one direction or the other, depending upon the particular camportion engaged by means of an actuator moving in a straight line towardthe control unit and having a pair of engaging portions thereon, withone en ging portion adapted to contact a corresponding cam surface torotate the control unit until the two engaging portions are inengagement with the corresponding stop portions on the control unit.Means are provided for guiding the actuator in a straight line movement.and a return spring is connected thereto for returning the actuator froman operated to an idle position. Indicating means connected with saidautomatic tuning structure show the tuned position of the radioreceiver, and manual means for tuning the receiver entirely over a rangeof signal frequencies is also connected with said indicator and acts insetting the control units to various angular positions with reference tothe rotary shaft. Referring now to the drawing, Fig. 1 illustrates thefront panel I of a housing H for carrying the control apparatus, itbeing understood of course that the housing may also be a radio receivercabinet. A plurality of push buttons l2 are secured to correspondingmovable elements in the control apparatus, and a knob l3 isalso on" oroff and the volume controlled by a knob l8 likewise available in frontof the panel. The control apparatus includes a rotary shaft eitherintegral with *or directly connected to the shaft for the radioreceiver. A plurality of control units 23 are mounted for angularadjustment with reference to the shaft l9 and are normally frictionallyretained thereon against rotation with reference to such shaft. Thecontrol units are selectively rotated to in turnrotate the shaft 19 bymeans of corresponding actuator 26- having body portions mounted andguided for straight line movement in the front and back frame plates 21and 23 respectively.

A push button I2 is secured at the front end of each of the actuatorsand projects through the housing II for finger engagement. The actuators26 are each normally retained in an idle position by means of a spring23, and each corresponding control unit remains in the angular cams arerigidly secured together into a control unit with the embossed portionsfitting back to back as shown in Fig. to adequately space the cams apartaxially for cooperation with the actuator as will be explained. The camsurfaces overlap so that there will be no "dead center" so far asactuation is concerned, and to correspond with the spaced apart engagingrollers. The embossed portions, and hence the two cams in each controlunit, are suitably rigidly secured together as by stamping out a pair ofportions indicated by the reference character 36 and peening one overthe other in a manner such that the securing portions extend into thecavity 34 on one side of the control unit (Fig. 5). The projection at 36resulting from such fastening also acts to limit the angular movement ofthe control unit with reference to the shaft l3 to approximately 180",as will be hereinafter explained.

A channel 38 is provided intermediate the two cams in each control unitat the wall of the embossed portion to permit the legs 33 integral withthe actuator 26 and extending at right angles l3 by a pair of identicalfriction washers 41 ntting within the cavities 34 in the cams, and eachwasher has a key portion 48 fitting in a corresponding keyway 43 in theshaft I! so as to prevent angular movement of the washer relative to theshaft. Each washer has a pair of shoulders 6| spaced apart approximately180 for enhaving a. cam surto a body portion 4| to pass therethrough tobe slidably supported and guided at the rear frame plate 28. The bodyportion has an offset shank 42 extending through the front frame plate21 of the tuning unit for receiving abutton I 2 thereon. A pair ofrollers 43 are each rotatably mounted at the body portion 4lf or.theactuator and are positioned on opposite sides thereof for engagementwith corresponding axially separated cam surfaces 32 when the actuatoris pressed inwardly in a straight line movement. Each roller is thusoff-center with respect to a line between the vertical midpoint of 'thebody 4|, and the rotary shaft I9 so that considerable leverage isapplied to the engaged cam surface. The particular cam surface 32engaged in a control unit by a roller 43 depends upon the angularposition of the control unit when the actuator is pressed inwardly. Witha control unit in theposition shown in Fig. 3, the roller 431 on theoutside of the actuator as viewed in Fig. 3 engages the correspondingcam surface 32 shown' entirely in full line, and rotates the controlunit until each roller 43 is in engagement with a corresponding stopportion or shoulder 33, as shown in Fig. 4. This stopped positioncorresponds with the angular position of the control shaft is ina'predebevelled friction discs 63 tumissecuredtoa gagement by theprojection 36 in the control unit to limit the rotary adjustablemovement of each control unit to approximately 180' or an amountcorresponding to the total rotary movement of the condenser 22 or anyother similar tuning unit for the radio receiver. The washers 41 aremovable axially on the shaft IS in combination with spacing collars 52on the shaft intermediate each control unit and a washer 53, as well asa spring washer 64, all of which cooperate in applying or varying thefrictional pressure on the control units. This entire assembly,including the axially movable elements described, moves to the right toapply frictional pressure on the control units as a wing nut 66 istightened onto the threaded portion 61 of the shaft l3, or opens up topermit angular adjustment of each control unit as the wing nut isunscrewed on the shaft. A stop arm 66 secured to the shaft at therighthand end of the movable assembly, as viewed in Fig. 2, acts tolimit the axial movement of such assembly in that direction. 1

The condenser 22 is rotated over the entire range of frequencies atwhich it can be tuned by means including the tuning knob l3, a crowngear 6| secured to the shaft l3, and a pinion gear 62 meshing with saidcrown gear. The pinion gear 62' is rotated by means of a' pair of and64, with the first disc rotating with the pinion gear 62, and the latterdisc 64 secured to a knob! 3. A spring 61 normally presses the shaft 66outwardly to disengage the friction discs 63 and 64. Engagement betweenthe two discs is of course provided by pressing in on the knob l3, afterwhich the shaft I! may be rotated in one direction or the other throughthe elements just described. The angular position of the shaft I3 isindicated by the pointer l4 moving over the dial scale l6 and carried ona shaft 66, which in gear 63 meshing with the pinion gear 62. I

The angular position on the shaft I 3 is also indicated by the pointerl4, inasmuch as the connection to said pointer through the gear 69, thepinion gear 62 and the crown gear 6|, is alway maintained irrespectiveof the mechanism initiating movement of the shaft I 3.

Assuming that the control units are in set position and it is desired tochange the angular relation of one or more of the control units withreference to the shaft N, such shaft is rotated either by the wing nut'66 or the knob l3 to a position such that the stop arm 66 engages acorresponding stop.lug 63 on the frame plate 2|.

termined tuning position for the condenser 22.

,Each actuator 26 is guided and maintained in a horizontal position, sofar as the line of movement is concerned, and vertical so far as thewidth is concerned, by openings 44 in the frame on the control Therotation is in such direction that continued shaft 66 carrying the ofthe control units 23 as above explained, the shaft i3.

aaeaoae a desired tuning position. Holding the friction discs 83 and 94engaged to maintain the shaft l9 against movement, a selected button I2is pushed lnwardLv to engage its corresponding control unit, and thecontrol unit is rotated with reference to the held shaft I9 until therollers 49 engage the stop shoulders on the cams 9i, as shown in Fig. 4.This operation may be repeated with reference to each control unit or itmay be followed with only a single control unit. After the desiredsettings have been accomplished, the wing nut is rotated in a directionto thread the same onto the shaft l9 until the stop arm 59 engages theopposite lug 59 and then continued rotation of the wing nut willrmovethe control unit assembly to the right against the stop arm 59 to applysufllcient frictional pressure on the control units to hold the same.After this, the buttons l2 may be pushed selectively to rotate acorresponding control unit 23 as previously described and move the shaftI9 to a predetermined angular position. After the selected actuator 26has been pushed to the tuned position, the spring 29 returns the same toidle position, with the back of the body portion ll of the actuatorengaging stop cushions 12 on the front plate 21 of the tuner unit.

In our invention, therefore, we provide a simple. compact control devicefor a radio receiver or pther controllable apparatus which is operatedby a straight line movement, and this straight line movement istransposed into rotary move- .ment substantially 180 in angular distancewithout intermediate links or gearing as is common- 1y employed. withthe actuators 26 provided in such a configuration that identical membersare employed throughout the device, and yet may be reversed in position,alternate actuators are staggered with one shank l2 extending'through abottom opening 46 in theframe plate 21, and the next adjacent shankextending through a top opening 46 in such front plate. This makes itpossible to use wide push buttons l2 as shown in Fig. 1, providing amplesurface for pressing engagement, and yet occupying a relatively smallspace at the front panel of the housing H and spaced apart projectionsand movable toward said control unit withone projection engaging one ofthe cam surfaces to move said unit thereactuator supported in said framemeans for linear movement having a pair of engaging portions thereon,with one of said engaging portions acting to engage one of the camsurfaces to rotate the control unit in a position at which each engagingportion on. said actuator is in engagement with a corresponding stopportion on a cam surface. r

4. A control device for controllable apparatus, including frame means, acontrol unit rotatably mountedin said frame means having thereon a pairof cam surfaces extending substantially in opposite directions withrespect to one another andspaced apart axially of the control unit,means for rotating said control unit including a linearly movableactuator supported in said frame means for movement toward and away fromsaid control unit, said actuator having a pair of engaging portions witheach portion adapted for engagement with one cam surface or the other,and means on said control unit for arresting the movement of the:actuator in a linear direction toward said control unit andsimultaneously therewith arresting rotary movement of said control unitat a predetermined control position.

5. A control device for controllable apparatus, including frame means, arotary shaft mounted in said frame means, a control unit supported onsaid shaft and normally'frictionally retained on said shaft againstmovement relative thereto, said control unit comprising a pair ofsubstantially identical cams with each of said cams ineluding anapertured embossed body portion and said frame means for linear movementtoward tions, said unit comprising a pair of cams operatively connectedand rigid-with respect to one another, with the cam surfaces thereofextending in opposite directions with reference to one anothcr, and eachcam having a shoulder portion at one end of the cam surface, and anactua cam surface at one edge thereof, with said cams being rigidlysecured together at the embossed portions with such embossed portions ina back to back position, and with said secured cams mounted on therotary shaft at the apertures in the embossed portions, and an actuatorsupported in said frame means for movement in a direction toward saidrotary shaft for engaging one cam surface or the other and rotating saidcontrol unit to a position at which both cam surfaces are engaged bysaid actuator.

6. A control device for controllable apparatus including a rotatablymounted shaft, a control unit supported on said shaft and normallyfrictionally retained on said shaft against movement relative thereto,said control unit comprising a pair of substantially identical controlmembers with each of said members having an apertured embossed bodyportion and an engaging surface at one edge thereof, with said memberspositioned with the embossed portions in back to back relation and beingrigidly secured to ether in such position, a projecting portion on oneof the embossed portions of said members, and with said secured membersmounted on the rotary shaft at the apertures in the embossed portions,

ator supported said device a pair of.

4 aasaooa a friction washer on each side of said control unit keyed onsaid shaft against rotational movement relative thereto but axiallymovable thereon, with at least one of said washers having a pair ofspaced-apart stop shoulders thereon for engagement with said projectingportion at said embossed portion for limiting the angular movement ofthe control unit with reference to the shaft, means for varying thefrictional pressure intermediate said washers and said control unit, andactuating means supported in said frame means for contacting one of thetwo engaging surfaces upon movement of said actuating means to rotatesaid control unit to a position at which both engagement surfaces arecontacted by said actuating means.

'7. A control device for controllable apparatus including frame meanshaving a pair ofoppo sitely disposed frame plates, a control unitrotatably mounted in said frame means having a pair of engaging edgesand stop means with said engaging edges spaced apart axially of thecontrol unit, and means for rotating said control unit comprising alinearly movable actuator supported in said frame means and'havingthereon an actuator shank, a body portion, and a guide leg,- with theguide leg parallel with the actuator shank and on a side of said bodyportion opposite thereto, said actuator shank being slidably supportedin a corresponding aperture in one of the frame plates and said guideleg slidably supported in the other frame plate, and said body portionhaving a pair of engaging portions thereon, with one engaging p rtionadapted for engagement with a corresponding engaging edge on saidcontrol unitvto rotate said control unitto a position at which eachengaging portion is in engagement with said stop means on said controlunit.

8. A control device for controllable apparatus including frame meanshaving a pair of oppositely disposed frame portions, a control unitrotatably mounted in said frame mean's, including a pair of engagingedges axially spaced apart and rigid with respect to one another, meansfor rotating said control unit including a linearly movable actuatorsupported in said frame means including a body portion having a pair ofengaging cam-shaped edges spaced apart in an axial direction but rigidwith respect to one another with each of said edges extending angularlya distance no more than 180, and extending in an opposite angulardirection with respect to one another, but positioned in a manner so asto overlap at a corresponding adjacent end of each edge, and means forengaging one edge orthe other to rotate said control means to a Positionat which both cam edges are engaged. 10. A control device for a radioreceiver including frame means, a rotary shaft mounted in said framemeans, control means mounted on said shaft for controlling'the angularrotation of said shaft, said con rol means having a pair of engagingedges spaced apart in an axial direction but rigid with respect to oneanother, and means for contacting one engaging edge or the other torotate said control means to a positicnat which both engaging edges arecontacted, said contact means including an actuator slidably mounted insaid frame means and having a body portion positioned in the frame atright angles to the rotary shaft and intermediate said spaced apartedges,

and a contact projection at each end of said body portion onoppositesides thereof with one projection adapted to contact the one engagingedge and the other projection adapted to contact the other engagingedge.

11. Control mechanism for controllable apparatus including rotarycontrolmeans, and sub-- stantially linearly, movable control means, frameportions and a pair of oppositely disposed guide extensions integralwith said body portion and at right angles thereto, with one of saidextensions having a push button thereon, and the other of saidextensions slidably supported in one of said frame portions andpositioned intermediate the two engaging edges, with one of saidengaging portions contacting an engaging edge of said control unit uponlinear movement of said actuator to rotate said control unitto anangular position at which each engaging portionis in contact m'th acorresponding engaging edge.

9. A control device for a radio receiver including frame means, a rotaryshaft mounted in said frame means, control means mounted on said shaftfor fontrolling the angular rotation of said shaft, sad control meansincluding a pair of means supporting said latter means for substantiallylinear movement, with one of said control means having a pair of camsurfaces thereon laterally disposed and at a portion of eachoverlappingly disposed but being fixed with respect to one another, withsaid rotary control means being moved directly by the linearly movablecontrol means to transpose linear movement of the latter means intorotary movement in the rotary control means, and with movement of bothsaid control means continuing to a position.

l2. Control mechanism for controllable apparatus including a pluralityof linearly movable actuator means, frame means supporting said actuatormeans for linear movement, and a pinrality of rotary control meanscorresponding to said actuator means, with each control means beingselectively rotated directly by its corresponding actuator means totranspose the linear movement of said actuator means into rotarymovement in said control means, each of said rotary control means havinga pair of radially extending portions with engaging surfaces thereonpredetermined control axially displaced but fixed with respect to oneanother, with a corresponding actuator means being linearly movable toengage one engaging surface or the other to directly rotate said controlmeans to a position at which said actuator means is in engagement withboth. extending portions on said control means.

. RICHARD C. MARHOLZ.

ALEXANDER W. PLENSLER.

